Innovating Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

R&D and supply-chain strategies are undergoing a ­fundamental transformation. The long-standing emphasis on “just-in-time” efficiency, which prioritized lean inventories and minimized surplus, is evolving toward “just-in-case” models (SAP Citation2025; Spanjol et al. Citation2024). This shift prioritizes safety stock, diversified ­suppliers, and redundant capacities to mitigate disruptions, even if it involves higher costs. This indicates a broader reprioritization in innovation and R&D management—a move from optimizing solely for cost and speed to building in redundancy, diversification, and robustness. Moreover, this strategic reorientation directly influences innovation and R&D management decisions. Considerations now extend to material sourcing, manufacturing processes, and product design to enable localized production and reduce reliance on single points of failure (Daymond et al. Citation2023; Spanjol et al. Citation2024). For instance, designing products with modularity and using locally sourced components can enhance resilience and potentially align with sustainability goals. Furthermore, the volatile geopolitical climate necessitates a heightened focus on foresight and scenario planning within companies of all sizes (Crews and Farrington Citation2017; Sarpong et al. Citation2023; Spanjol et al. Citation2024; Townsend et al. Citation2025). Practitioners must anticipate and mitigate risks arising from trade disputes, sanctions, and data localization requirements. This proactive approach helps companies prepare for unexpected challenges and business volatility, transitioning from reactive responses to strategic foresight.